5 Benefits of Buying a Fishing Boat in the Fall

Get ahead of the curve by buying a boat in the fall. Some factors to consider include winterizing, maintenance, and discounts. Save cash before you splash.

There was a slight chop on the water and I watched a 23-foot Sea Craft effortlessly slice through them. It was the kind of day when I wished I had that same boat, for me and my light-hull were about to get bounced around. If the fishing reports weren't off-the-hook hot I would have sat this one out. But another way around it is to buy a bigger boat.

A lot of boaters and anglers think about buying a boat in the fall instead of in the spring. And when you think about it, that approach makes a lot of sense.

Advantages of Buying a Boat in the Fall

1. Say no to winterizing

A lot of folks don't want the hassle or expense of winterizing a boat. To be fair, it's not the cost or the work that's the issue. Instead, it's usually just a prompt because the owner is ready to sell anyhow.

2. Upgrade potential

New boaters have learned a tremendous amount in their first season. As their experience increases so do their tastes and preferences. Selling a starter boat and upgrading to a boat that meets their new requirements is an easy way to go.

3. Disinterested in maintenance

Old boats that cause continued headaches and heartburn sometimes wear out their welcome. Some boats need repowering, others need structural repairs, and many need costly new electronics. Rather than re-invest in their well-used vessel, some owners just want to sell and start over.

4. Timing is everything

Buying a boat in the fall means it'll be ready for spring. While everyone else is hauling and winterizing you're looking and negotiating a deal. There is no pressure coming from last minute buying and financing decisions, and get this: if you buy a boat in the fall you can rig and appoint it so it'll be ready to splash come spring. You'll be ahead of the curve.

5. Great discounts on last year's models

If you don't mind buying a boat that's not the current year, look for sweetheart deals in the fall. A lot of them are out there.

Never put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today. Hmmm....that certainly applies to fall boat shows! Before you hit them out, get prepared by checking out our boat comparison tool and these boat buying tips.

Tom Keer

Tom Keer is an award-winning writer who lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He is a columnist for the Upland Almanac, a Contributing Writer for Covey Rise magazine, a Contributing Editor for both Fly Rod and Reel and Fly Fish America, and a blogger for the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing program. Keer writes regularly for over a dozen outdoor magazines on topics related to fishing, hunting, boating, and other outdoor pursuits. When they are not fishing, Keer and his family hunt upland birds over their three English setters. His first book, a Fly Fishers Guide to the New England Coast was released in January 2011. Visit him at www.tomkeer.com or at www.thekeergroup.com.